Based on this excerpt from ernest hemingway's "in another country"what is the contextual meaning of the phrase "take up"? to become

The purpose was to pursue a matter latter or further with someone.  The American decided to learn Italian to be able to speak with the major.  There were some things that the American wanted to ask the Major which was the reason for learning the language.

i think the answer is restaurants offering only dinner

well there are a bunch of different possibilities so your gonna have to be a bit more specific